IPL 2025: MS Dhoni, Vijay Shankar create unwanted records in CSK's sluggish chase against DC

TOI Sports Desk / TIMESOFINDIA.COM / Updated: Apr 6, 2025, 17:44 IST

Text Size

Small
Medium
Large

Chennai Super Kings lost to Delhi Capitals by 25 runs in their IPL 2025 match. Chasing 184, CSK struggled at 74/5 when MS Dhoni entered. Dhoni and Vijay Shankar added a slow 84-run partnership, failing to accelerate. KL Rahul's 77 off 51 balls powered Delhi to 183/6, maintaining their unbeaten run while CSK's campaign falters.

IPL 2025: MS Dhoni, Vijay Shankar create unwanted records in CSK's sluggish chase against DC

Chennai Super Kings' MS Dhoni and Vijay Shankar (PTI Photo)

NEW DELHI: Chennai Super Kings' lack of urgency in a tricky chase cost them dearly as they slumped to a 25-run defeat against Delhi Capitals in their Indian Premier League 2025 clash at the MA Chidambaram Stadium on Saturday.Chasing 184, CSK were reeling at 74/5 in 10.4 overs when MS Dhoni walked in — his earliest entry in a full 20-over match since 2023. With 110 needed off 56 balls, he joined Vijay Shankar, who was on 24 off 23. The stage was set for a counterattack, but what followed was a sluggish and baffling passage of play.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!Despite their reputation as big-hitters, Dhoni and Shankar crawled to just 32 runs in the next 4.2 overs. Shankar eventually brought up his fifty in the 17th over off 43 balls — the slowest half-century of the season. Alarmingly, CSK now account for three of the four slowest fifties in IPL 2025, raising concerns over the intent of their batters.

Poll

Do you think MS Dhoni's early entry in the match made a difference in the outcome?

No, the team was already in troubleYes, it could have changed the momentum

Also See: SRH vs GT, IPL Live ScoreSlowest 50s in IPL 2025 (by balls)

43 - V Shankar CSK vs DC in Chennai
42 - R Ravindra CSK vs MI in Chennai
40 - Y Jaiswal RR vs PBKS in Chandigarh
39 - L Livingstone RCB vs GT in Bengaluru
37 - R Gaikwad CSK vs RR in Guwahati

Dhoni, too, endured a forgettable outing. His first boundary — a six off Mukesh Kumar — came off the 19th ball he faced, the slowest any batter has taken to hit a boundary in this season. Though the duo added an unbeaten 84-run partnership, it came in 9.2 overs — far too passive to make an impact.

Bombay Sport Exchange Ep. 2: GroupM's Vinit Karnik on IPL's growth and emerging sports

Earlier, KL Rahul anchored Delhi’s innings with a classy 77 off 51 balls to take them to 183/6. With this win, DC remain unbeaten while CSK’s stuttering campaign continues.

Get IPL 2025 match schedules, squads, points table, and live scores for CSK, MI, RCB, KKR, SRH, LSG, DC, GT, PBKS, and RR. Check the latest IPL Orange Cap and Purple Cap standings.

About the Author

TOI Sports Desk

The TOI Sports Desk excels in a myriad of roles that capture the essence of live sporting events and deliver compelling content to readers worldwide. From running live blogs for India and non-India cricket matches to global spectacles featuring Indian talents, like the Chess World Cup final featuring Praggnanandhaa and the Badminton World Championships semifinal featuring HS Prannoy, our live coverage extends to all mega sporting events. We extensively cover events like the Olympics, Asian Games, Cricket World Cups, FIFA World Cups, and more. The desk is also adept at writing comprehensive match reports and insightful post-match commentary, complemented by stats-based articles that provide an in-depth analysis of player performances and team dynamics. We track news wires for key stories, conduct exclusive player interviews in both text and video formats, and file content from print editions and reporters. We keep track of all viral stories, trending topics and produce our own copies on the subjects. We deliver accurate, engaging, and up-to-the-minute sports content, round the clock.

End of Article